Ratna & her 3 month old baby - Orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park
Hi Hiver Lovers,
Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the protected forests in Indonesia, including part of the Mount Bukit Barisan cluster that stretches along the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. You will findout a lot about this protected forest if you look it up on the internet.
The very interesting thing is the hiking trail, there are many unique things that can be found along the hiking trail which has been well managed by the manager of the national park which has long been one of the lungs of this world, be it various types of plants and various animal species.
This time I took the route with the shortest and closest distance to climb the northeastern part of Mount Leuser, the distance is only 4 hours away and I really hope to meet one of my favorite animals, namely the orangutan. One of the typical Indonesian animals which is currently on the verge of extinction.
For me, being able to meet and interact with orangutans is one of my dreams. Not all climbers can be lucky to get this opportunity. Today is one of my lucky days, I feel very lucky because I can interact with “Ratna” and her 3 month old baby, of course with assistance from the officers.
Ratna is one of the orangutans trained by the Bukit Lawang orangutan conservation center. He was released back to his habitat in 2015 to coincide with the closing of the conservation center due to the success & the end of his conservation program.
Ratna has been kept illegally for more than 5 years in an iron cage that is very inappropriate by illegal animal collectors. But managed to be saved by officers and now can live freely again in its natural habitat in the protected forest of Gunung Leuser. That is why climbers of Mount Leuser accompanied by officers can interact with certain orangutans if they are lucky. Ratna and several other orangutans did not fully recover their wild animals mentally because they had been kept by humans for a long time.
In Leuser Park, Bukit Lawang, currently no more than 15 surviving orangutans are observed. Half of them have experienced the same fate as Ratna.
Apart from orangutans, on this occasion, I was also able to meet Kedih monkeys with their cute mohawk-style hair. Also several types of trees & their roots with unique patterns created by nature.
If you intend to climb to Gunung Leuser, please make sure that you have obtained a permit and must be accompanied by an officer, otherwise you will be subject to heavy fines.
Traveling through the outdoors will give us many different experiences and for me the outdoors is a source of inspiration.
Best Regards
(Zed Amna)